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Showing papers on "Extended producer responsibility published in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review the concept of EPR and discuss selected frameworks for the implementation of even an "abridged" form of the EPR in the developing countries.
Abstract: The developing countries are facing huge challenges in the management of electronic waste (e-waste) which are either internally generated or imported illegally as ‘used’ goods in an attempt to bridge the so-called ‘digital divide’. E-waste contains hazardous constituents that may negatively impact the environment and affect human health if not properly managed. In these countries, because of lack of adequate infrastructure to manage wastes safely, these wastes are buried, burnt in the open air or dumped into surface water bodies. Crude ‘backyard’ recycling practices, which are not efficient and are highly polluting are also used in material recovery activities. Most developed countries have in place legislation mandating electronic manufacturers and importers to take-back used electronic products at their end-of-life (EoL) based on the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR). In this paper, we review the concept of EPR, and discuss selected frameworks. The aim has been to find a mid point for the implementation of even an ‘abridged’ form of EPR in the developing countries. Implementation of EPR in the developing countries has become necessary in the light of the present high level of trans-boundary movement of e-waste into the developing countries and the lack of basic or state-of-the-art recycling and waste disposal facilities. Change in attitude by governments, appropriate legislation dealing specifically with e-waste, control of electronic waste dumping, implementation of EPR and transfer of technology on sound recycling of e-waste are the key issues in effective management of e-waste in developing countries.

507 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that a number of constraints, namely: lack of interest from clients; attitudes towards waste minimisation; and training all act as disincentives to a proactive and sustainable implementation of waste reduction strategies during the design process.

398 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the influence of EPR policy parameters on product design and coordination incentives in a durable product supply chain and demonstrate how charges during use and post-use can be used as levers to encourage environmentally favorable product design.
Abstract: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation focuses on the life-cycle environmental performance of products and has significant implications for management theory and practice. In this paper, we examine the influence of EPR policy parameters on product design and coordination incentives in a durable product supply chain. We model a manufacturer supplying a remanufacturable product to a customer over multiple periods. The manufacturer invests in two design attributes of the product that impact costs incurred by the supply chain -- performance, which affects the environmental impact of the product during use, and remanufacturability, which affects the environmental impact post-use. Consistent with the goals of EPR policies, the manufacturer and the customer are required to share the environmental costs incurred over the product's life-cycle. The customer has a continuing need for the services of the product and optimizes between the costs of product replacement and the costs incurred during use. We demonstrate how charges during use and post-use can be used as levers to encourage environmentally favorable product design. We analyze the impact of supply chain coordination on design choices and profit and discuss contracts that can be used to achieve coordination, both under symmetric and asymmetric information about customer attributes.

164 citations


Book
09 Oct 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present two sets of in-depth evaluation studies conducted in search of EPR programmes, which incorporate the theoretically envisioned incentive mechanisms in practice, and argue that the presence of mandatory EPR programs do provide positive impacts for the environmental design strategies of manufacturers.
Abstract: Policies based upon Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) aim to reduce the environmental impacts of products across their entire life cycle. The intent is to induce design changes in products and thus reduce impacts at source. This, by provision of incentives to producers through an extension of responsibility. Since the early 1990s, a number of countries have incorporated the concept of EPR into policy related to end-of-life management of selected product groups. The incorporation of incentive mechanisms for design change in an EPR programme is, however, perceived to face various challenges, especially for durable, complex products. This thesis presents two sets of in-depth evaluation studies conducted in search of EPR programmes, which incorporate the theoretically envisioned incentive mechanisms in practice. Based upon firm evidence from the studies, it argues that the presence of mandatory EPR programmes do provide positive impacts for the environmental design strategies of manufacturers. This is especially true when implementation is based upon forms of so called individual responsibility where individual producers assume responsibility for the end-of-life management of their own products. Further, this work suggests a range of concrete implementation mechanisms for individual responsibility and highlights the essential components of such approaches.

118 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a shared responsibility approach was proposed to distribute the burden of responsibility and associated liability between parties more fairly, and is likely to be more widely acceptable than pure producer or consumer perspectives.

115 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The interaction between the different governmental, private and academic institutions for the creation of the integrated management system for EOL tyres is discussed, the approach taken, the technical, political and legal aspects underneath them, as well as the environmental consequences induced by thecreation of the management system.

91 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on the findings of 36 questionnaires and in-depth interviews with China's electrical and electronic (EE) manufacturers, the authors explores the responses of China's EE companies to China RoHS and WEEE and makes comparisons between responses to EPR legislation in the EU and China, building on the previous work of the authors.
Abstract: The concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been incorporated into environmental policy by a growing number of governments. Inspired by EPR initiatives of the European Union, China has also enacted similar legislation, known as China RoHS and China WEEE. Despite high expectations, the actual influence of EPR legislation on product design changes remains ambiguous. Based on the findings of 36 questionnaires and in-depth interviews with China's electrical and electronic (EE) manufacturers, this paper explores the responses of China's EE companies to China RoHS and WEEE and makes comparisons between responses to EPR legislation in the EU and China, building on the previous work of the authors. In order to evaluate the influence of EPR legislation in motivating environmental design changes, drivers and barriers for adopting eco-design are also investigated. It is found that the impact of EPR regulations in China is low. There is little evidence that EPR has stimulated systematic eco-design. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

90 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the potential impacts of EPR for waste batteries, packaging, and WEEE on producers distributing products in Europe through a case study of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), responsible for marketing and distribution of PlayStation products.
Abstract: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, making producers responsible for financing and organizing take-back and recycling of waste batteries, packaging, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), has been or is currently in the process of being implemented in 29 different countries in Europe following introduction of European Union directives. This article reviews the potential impacts of EPR for waste batteries, packaging, and WEEE on producers distributing products in Europe through a case study of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE)—responsible for marketing and distribution of PlayStation products. There are presently more than 250 producer responsibility organizations (PROs) established to meet EPR obligations in Europe, which contrasts to the single national recycling schemes founded in the late 1990s. SCEE estimates it avoided anetcostof €408,000 in 2005 by introducing competitive review of PRO services (against a total net take-back cost of €401,000).To meet increasingly extensive compliance obligations, SCEE has initiated new activities, with considerable implications for the company's legal, sales data administration, procurement, accounting, and product and packaging approval practices. Considering the ultimate aim of EPR to establish economic incentives for improved product design, several significant political and practical obstacles are described from SCEE's case and industry situation. Although the principle of EPR is indeed interesting, its practical application in Europe may require refinement. Producers, given adequate support by policy makers, still have opportunities to develop new processes under the WEEE Directive to facilitate design for the environment.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using Grey Relational Analysis, the multi-criteria weighted average is proposed to rank the product end-of-life options with respect to several criteria at the material level, which will guide the selection process and help a decisionmaker solve the selection problem as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Management of the product end-of-life (EOL) for a manufacturing enterprise is important. An improper EOL strategy can negatively affect the productivity and profitability and undermines the reputation of an enterprise because of the growing demands for extended producer responsibility. Producers need tools and methods to evaluate each EOL option since it is a complicated but must-be-accomplished task to achieve in order to solve the multiple-criteria problem that combines aspects such as eco-system quality, environmental impacts, human health issues, and economic factors etc. This paper presents an alternative decision-making process to generate an optimal solution from a list of EOL options under the uncertainty condition of incomplete information. Using Grey Relational Analysis, the multi-criteria weighted average is proposed to rank the product EOL options with respect to several criteria at the material level. It will guide the selection process and help a decision-maker solve the selection problem. T...

53 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a nonlinear mathematical programming model from a profit-maximizing firm's perspective is developed, which can be tailored as a decision-support tool for firms facing environmental goals and constraints.
Abstract: Recent environmental trends, including (1) an expansion of existing command and control directives, (2) the introduction of market-based policy instruments, and (3) the adoption of extended producer responsibility, have created a need for new tools to help managerial decision-making. To address this need, we develop a nonlinear mathematical programming model from a profit-maximizing firm's perspective, which can be tailored as a decision-support tool for firms facing environmental goals and constraints. We typify our approach using the specific context of diesel engine manufacturing and remanufacturing. Our model constructs are based on detailed interviews with top managers from two leading competitors in the medium and heavy-duty diesel engine industry. The approach allows the incorporation of traditional operations planning considerations — in particular, capacity, production, and inventory — together with environmental considerations that range from product design through production to product end of life. A current hurdle to implementing such a model is the availability of input data. We therefore highlight the need not only to involve all departments within businesses but also for industrial ecologists and business managers to work together to implement meaningful decision models that are based on accurate and timely data and can have positive economic and environmental impact.

01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: A comparative study of e-waste recycling systems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan from the EPR perspective was conducted by Chung et al. as mentioned in this paper, where the authors considered three countries: Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Abstract: Chung, Sung-Woo; Rie, Murakami-Suzuki.2008.A comparative study of E-waste recycling systems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan from the EPR perspective,Reports,[Chiba]Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization,21

Dissertation
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an account of the transposition outcome of the WEEE Directive into EU Member State legal text and the practical implementation that has emerged as a result.
Abstract: In the current discourse over what constitutes successful Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy implementation, there is an on-going debate over the ability of programme design to include an appropriate incentive mechanism to stimulate producers to improve the design of their products for reduced life cycle impacts, and especially the impacts and costs from the end-of-life management. At the centre of the debate is the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which has the explicit goal to encourage the design and production of electrical and electronic products which facilitate dismantling, recovery and in particular the reuse and recycling of WEEE. Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) is the main mechanism to achieve this goal, whereby each producer is responsible for financing the waste from his own products. This thesis presents an account of the transposition outcome of the WEEE Directive into EU Member State legal text and the practical implementation that has emerged as a result. It explores the factors that have led to the current impasse regarding IPR implementation in Europe, and together with the investigation of more successful IPR implementation and industry practice, suggests a characterisation of possible ways of implementing IPR given today’s reality. (Less)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a computer based from gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by setting up appropriate expanded system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of the paper is to understand the environmental performances of the current management activities of organic waste from separate collection.Design/methodology/approach – A computer based from gate‐to‐cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by setting up appropriate expanded system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline.Findings – The environmental performances of existing aerobic and anaerobic plants, based on field measured data, were made available, paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems.Research limitations/implications – The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials and energy recovery is probably the major drawback that must be faced when dealing with LCA in the waste management sector.Practical implications – This paper may help public administrators in better understanding the suitability of...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The revised Directive on waste (Directive 2008/98/EC) entered into force on 12 December 2008 as discussed by the authors, which simplifies the existing legislative framework for waste in order to encourage the divergence of waste away from landfills, strengthen legal certainty and minimise burdens on businesses, regulators and stakeholders.
Abstract: The revised Directive on waste (Directive 2008/98/EC) entered into force on 12 December 2008. The purpose of the revised Directive is to simplify the existing legislative framework for waste in order to encourage the divergence of waste away from landfills, to strengthen legal certainty and minimise burdens on businesses, regulators and stakeholders. This article explores the main features of the revised Directive and assesses them against the European Commissions' intentions in introducing the Directive. In addition, the paper considers the extent to which the revised Directive promotes successfully (i) reduction of natural resource use, (ii) prevention of environmental impacts of waste generation, (iii) life-cycle thinking and; (iv) securing waste prevention. The paper concludes that there is still room for further clarification, particularly in relation to the criteria for by-products and the new waste management terms end of waste and preparing for re-use . Whilst the revised Directive has weaknesses and limitations it should be considered within the context of decision-making. In this way it represents a multi-party, multi-institutional and multi-national compromise which should be considered as a progressive step towards improving the whole life-cycle of products and resources. Undoubtedly, the revised Directive sets the tone for future legislative developments and bolsters the importance of extended producer responsibility in future waste management measures.

Posted Content
TL;DR: As the volume of battery-waste continues to grow, solutions for its disposal become increasingly imperative and the management of electronic waste has to be assessed in the broad framework of Product Responsibility and the Precautionary Principle.
Abstract: The pace of technological change with computers is creating a problematic scenario on what to do with the growing amount of electronic waste. E-junk is the fastest growing waste stream and the threat from spent batteries is growing as the volume in landfills grows. Batteries contain heavy metals or potentially toxic substances which pose dangers to human health and the environment. Environmentalists fear a critical contamination of soil and ground water from discarded batteries. To avoid this problematic scenario, a few companies under pressure from environmentalists have slowly begun to reduce or phase out the use of hazardous materials such as cadmium and are including batteries in their company's environmental compliance strategy implementing an end-of-life management. Increasingly, manufacturers are also moving on their own to recycle their products. As the volume of battery-waste continues to grow, solutions for its disposal become increasingly imperative and the management of electronic waste has to be assessed in the broad framework of Product Responsibility and the Precautionary Principle. The European Union has passed the Batteries Directive following the producer responsibility model underpinned by legislation, whereby producers of electronic/electrical products must take responsibility for those products at the end of their life. The law aims to reduce sharply the amount of harmful substances that leak from used batteries when they are dumped with regular trash in landfill. However, without a significant change by the manufacturers and other countries, the battery-waste will continue to grow with all its health and environmental consequences.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the principle of mass balance and the annual ownership data from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics at the central government level to estimate the generated amounts of waste products.
Abstract: Under the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration established a new office in 1998 to collect recycling fees from producers and distribute subsidies to recyclers. Although, in general, the indicators of recycling performance for a program include the amount of waste for reuse, recovery and recycling during the previous decade, the collection rates, or return rates, of the due-recycled items are in fact regarded as being the only factors of concern to the various interests in Taiwan. As we define a collection rate as the amount of a particular waste product collected divided by the amount of the same waste product generated during the same year, the key element in the calculation of the collection rate is the amount of waste product generated, which is merely an estimate with little data for confirmation, especially for products with longer life spans, such as automobiles and electrical and electronic equipment. Past studies have suggested the adoption of survival analysis for a product that is combined with sales data to estimate the amount of the product that will be discarded during a particular year. In our project, from another perspective, we use the principle of mass balance and the annual ownership data from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics at the central government level to estimate the generated amounts of waste products. Our model provides a simple and reliable method of waste estimation to further evaluate the performance of the recycling policy in a country.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare and explain the environmental effectiveness of the ELV programmes in the United Kingdom and in Sweden between 1990 and 2005, using a framework that integrates the Dutch approach to policy network analysis (PNA) with a theory-based evaluation.



Journal Article
TL;DR: The use of LCA as the sole tool to determine improvements to the process under investigation can be biased as the human factor is not always included in the system boundaries as mentioned in this paper, and the importance of the concept of extended producer responsibility requires a risk assessment that takes into account a broader set of elements, including occupational health risks.
Abstract: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a set of tools and ideas in the field of Environmental Assessment and it is one of the most important management tools to understand product related environmental impacts. It covers the life span from the extraction of the raw materials to their disposal or reprocessing. The main developments over the past 40 years are shortly reviewed in a perspective that puts an emphasis on Waste to Energy issues. This aims to identify the advantages and limitations of LCA related to the models of production processes adopted as basis of environmental assessment in waste management. The importance of the concept of extended producer responsibility requires a risk assessment that takes into account a broader set of elements, including occupational health risks. The use of LCA as the sole tool to determine improvements to the process under investigation can be biased as the human factor is not always included in the system boundaries. Examples of inclusion of work environment issues in Life Cycle approaches as well as models that balance health, safety and environmental impact are presented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: E-waste is defined as a generic term encompassing various forms of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that are old, end-of-life (EOL) electronic appliances and have ceased to be of any valu...
Abstract: E-waste is defined as “a generic term encompassing various forms of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that are old, end-of-life (EOL) electronic appliances and have ceased to be of any valu...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a framework to evaluate the potential for take-back regulations to actually lead to reduced environmental impacts and to stimulate product design changes, including whether to hold firms physically or financially responsible for the recovery of their products, when to impose recycling fees, whether to include disposal and hazardous substance bans, and whether to mandate product design features to foster reuse and recycling of components and materials.
Abstract: Manufacturers are increasingly being required to adhere to product take-back regulations that require them to manage their products at the end of life. Such regulations seek to internalize products' entire life cycle costs into market prices, with the ultimate objective of reducing their environmental burden. This article provides a framework to evaluate the potential for take-back regulations to actually lead to reduced environmental impacts and to stimulate product design changes. It describes trade-offs associated with several major policy decisions, including whether to hold firms physically or financially responsible for the recovery of their products, when to impose recycling fees, whether to include disposal and hazardous substance bans, and whether to mandate product design features to foster reuse and recycling of components and materials. The framework also addresses policy elements that can significantly affect the cost efficiency and occupational safety hazards of end-of-life product recovery operations. The evaluation framework is illustrated with examples drawn from take-back regulations promulgated in Europe, Japan, and the United States governing waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the basic legislative provisions of product responsibility and their practical implementation using the example of Germany are described and the ways in which a machine-readable identification and information system is needed to support the environmental effectiveness of the WEEE system and discusses the necessary legal adaptation that is required.
Abstract: The regulatory approach of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive explicitly places ‘producer responsibility’ on the centre stage. The producer is obliged to ‘take into full account and facilitate’ primarily function-maintaining measures, such as ‘repair’ and ‘upgrading’ as well as ‘reuse’; only subsequently are material-maintaining measures mentioned in the form of ‘disassembly and recycling’. The main incentive established by the Directive is the allocation of costs. Every producer ‘shall be responsible for financing the operations . . . relating to the waste from his own products’. In practice, however, individual producer responsibility is transferred to a collective system in which the financial incentive for function-maintaining measures only has a minimal effect. If one wants to encourage the producer to decide in favour of individual producer responsibility, the machine-readable identification of products is needed to allocate costs according to the polluter-pays principle. At the same time, it also allows for improved monitoring of product and waste flows, on the basis of which illegal waste shipments would also become easier to detect. This article describes the basic legislative provisions of product responsibility and their practical implementation using the example of Germany. It also shows the ways in which a machine-readable identification and information system is needed to support the environmental effectiveness of the WEEE system and discusses the necessary legal adaptation that is required.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the interaction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Waste Shipment Regulation, insofar as they both regulate shipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment, is discussed.
Abstract: The article deals with the interaction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Waste Shipment Regulation, insofar as they both regulate shipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment. While the number of such shipments is increasing rapidly, there is widespread uncertainty among companies and enforcement authorities concerning the interpretation of some of the relevant provisions. In particular, the borderline issues linked to the definition of ‘waste’ and the distinction between ‘waste’ and ‘product’ seem to cause difficulties that could be exploited by companies disguising their waste as ‘products’ to circumvent EU rules on waste management. Furthermore, the correct classification of waste is not always obvious, which provides for uncertainty as far as the applicable control procedure is concerned. This article analyses the regulatory and non-regulatory steps taken at both European and national levels towards more clarity. It concludes by calling for more coordination at European level in relation to enforcement activities. Furthermore, companies must take a more proactive stance when designing their take-back and waste management plans.

01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, a two-step theory-based evaluation (TBE) is employed to evaluate the effectiveness of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management in East Asian countries.
Abstract: Environmental protection has become high in the policy agenda of East Asian countries by the end of the last century due to both internal and external stimuli. One of the main environmental issues is the management of solid waste. The concept of circular economy which encourages reduce, reuse, and recycling, i.e. 3Rs, together with the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been promoted principally in the region by the Japanese government and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), respectively. This paper reviews approaches to pursue EPR and analyses factors behind policy development and environmental effectiveness of the respective programmes in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan from the 1990s onward. The management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, or e(lectronic)-waste) is selected as an object of the study. A two-step theory-based evaluation (TBE) is employed to evaluate the effectiveness of WEEE programmes. This paper concludes that internal factors such as limits in waste disposal capacity are more powerful in explaining the speed of policy development and the exact design of WEEE programmes though the role of epistemic communities helps in understanding the policy discourse. The adoption of the restriction of the use of hazardous substances (RoHS) in East Asia, on the other hand, was driven mainly by international trade harmonisation. TBE shows that the impacts of existing WEEE programmes on design improvements varied and the main explanation was the degree of producers’ involvement in the end-of-life management, which was highest in Japan and lowest in Taiwan. It also shows that programmes in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, succeeded to an extent in promoting WEEE recycling although the actual achievements in the area of waste collection were not completely in line with the EPR intervention and implementation theories. In addition, this paper questions the role of exports of used products to less developed countries because this form of “reuse” can compromise environmental protection goals where the imported countries do not have a proper system to ensure environmentally sound management of WEEE when these products reach their ultimate end-of-life stage.


Karen Basiye1
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the functionality of EPR in the management of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) in Kenya using a case study on manufacturer involvement in end-of-life management is explored.
Abstract: This thesis explores the functionality of Extend Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the management of Electrical and Electronic waste (e-waste) in Kenya using a case study on manufacturer involvement in end-of-life management. To achieve the purpose of the study the analytical framework used incorporates Environmental effectiveness, Economic efficiency, Political acceptability, Administrabilty and Innovative advancement in discussing the EPR policy instrument used by the manufacturer. On the practical front the data on the take-back scheme was discussed under the following factors that affect the efficiency and effectiveness of a take-back scheme: economic incentives, disincentives, convenience, inconvenience and information. On the other hand the thesis provides preliminary insights into the overall ewaste management scenario in Kenya. Literature and practical knowledge were used to explore and establish a picture of the dynamics of EPR in e-waste management under the ICT sector with special focus on mobile telephony and the actors in the sector. Suggested policy directions are based on the gaps identified through an analysis of the materials and information collected while in the field. The research confirms that there is need to develop waste management policies and regulations in Kenya structured and guided by EPR principles. The thesis emphasizes that EPR is a necessity in the management of e-waste in Kenya and the developing countries at large. Further it notes that there is need for knowledge transfer and exchange from the developed countries to the developing countries grappling with e-waste management in formulation of appropriate institutional and legislative frameworks customized to the ground realities.

Posted ContentDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the economic and policy aspects of waste management options focusing on waste to energy (WtE) are assessed and the authors conclude that high levels of WtE and recycling are compatible as waste treatment options.
Abstract: The growing stream of municipal solid waste requires a sustainable waste management strategy. Meanwhile, addressing climate change and security of energy supply concerns require increased use of low-carbon and domestic sources of energy. This paper assesses the economic and policy aspects of waste management options focusing on waste to energy (WtE). We conclude that high levels of WtE and recycling are compatible as waste treatment options. We also present a social cost-benefit analysis of waste management scenarios for the UK focusing on specific waste management targets and carbon price. The results indicate that meeting the waste management targets of the EU Directive are socially more cost effective than the current practice. The cost effectiveness improves substantially with higher carbon prices. The findings show that WtE can be an important part of both waste management strategy and renewable energy policy. However, achieving the full potential of WtE requires development of heat delivery networks.

Journal Article
Zhu Da-jian1
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors developed the subject-object-process model of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to reveal the essential features of EPR and discover its motivational factors.
Abstract: China is about to launch its circular economy law,and the new law will stipulate on the Extended Producer Responsibility.This paper works on the theoretical foundation of EPR by developing the subject-object-process model,which helps to reveal the essential features of EPR,and discover its motivational factors.Based on this,motivational mechanism of EPR is developed from three dimensions of institutional applicability,responsibility promotion and implementation strategy.